Automatically-released alarm-box for fire-extinguisher systems.



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J. G. NOLEN. A

AUTOMATIGALLY RELEASED ALARM BOX FOR PIRE EXTINGUISHBR SYSTEMS.

APPLICATIQN T:LED FEB. 29, 1904.

946,257.' Patented Jan. 11,1910.

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l a n I J. G. NOLBN. AUToMATIQALLY RELEASED ALARM B0X PoR PIRE EXTINGUISHER SYSTEM A'P-PLIOATION FILED FEB. 29, 1904. 946,257, .Patented Jan. 11,'1910.

3 SHEETSfSHEET 2.

, J. G. NOLEN. AUTOMATIGALLY RELEASED ALARM BOX EUR PIRE EXTINGUISHER SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED PEB. 29, 1904. y

Patented Jan. 11, 1910.

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"fdbO/ qames G. no 26'?? I 'mal 'commonly known as variable-,pressurealarm- 'f struction and arrangement whereby a sus` UNITED STATES PATENT ioE-EicE.

JAMES G. NOL'EN, OFOHIGAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FRANK B. COOK,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATICALLY-RELEASED AL'A-RM-BOX FOR Specification of L'etters Patent. i

FIREfEXTINGUISI-IER SYSTEMS.

Patented Jan. 11, 1910.

Application filed February 29, 1984. Serial No. 195,713.

To all whom t may concern.'

' Be it known that I, JAMES G. NoLEN, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, 5 haveV invented a certain new and useful .Improvement in Automatically'-Released Alarm Boxes for .Fire Extinguisher Systems, of which the following is a specilication.

It hasbeen found desirable in connection I with automatic tire extinguisher systems to I -provide ineans'for automatically giving an alarm whenthe pressure-in the distributing` pipes is,from any cause whatever, increased'. and allowed to remain at a point more or'less' above the normal pressure, as, for example, in case of fire and the consequent opening of one or more of the sprinkler-heads connected with the distributing pipes.

My inventiontherefore relates to what'are signal apparatus*that is to say, it relates to ticular character in which an alarm is given when the pressure in the distributing pipes l' nises above a certain point; and an alarmsignal is only given when the pressure rises Thus a mere momentary rise in pressure above the normal would not result in the transmission of an alarm-signal.

. `Generally stated, the object of my invention lis they provision of an improved contained increase in pressure above the normal will result in the transmission vof an alarmsignal. L

-A special object is to provide an improved construction. and arrangement whereby sig- ,for indicating the condition of the box.

nal-transmittingv mechanism may be conveniently and advantageously mounted upon the casing of one of the valves of an automatic fire extinguisher system.

Another object is the provisionof an improved construction and arrangement whereby a dash-pot device 'may 'be effectively and efficiently employed as the means for preventing the giving of an alarm except in the case of a'sustained increase in pressure.

A further object is the provision of an improved E construction and arrangement whereby a flexible diaphragm may be aclvantageously and etliciently employed as an element of the means 'for tripping the normally woundup clockwork of the alarm-box.

vincrease the general etliciency and serviceability of an. automatically released box of this particular character. 60

To the foregoing and other useful. ends, my invention consists in matters hereinafterset forth and claimed. y

In the accompanying drawings,-Figure' 1 is avertical section through-the casing of the alarm-box. and alsov through the casing inclosing my improved arrangement whereby tlie increase in pressure serves to release the' normally wound-up clockwork of said box, -and'showing parts of said improved arrangement, also the adjacent portion ot the valve casing, in verticalfsection: the clock` work and signal-transmitting devices ot' saidv box being shown in front elevation, and the said section being, taken on line 1-l` in Fig. 2. Fig. 2 isa vertical section-on line 2-2 in Fig. 1. Fig.; 8 is a perspective of certain parts located in the bottom of the box, and whereby the normally wound-up clockwork is automatically released byv an increase in pressure. Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are iletail views looking toward the inner surfacel of the front wall of the box, and illustrating the different positions of the shutter-device.

alarm- As thus illustrated, the/alarm-box A may.; be. of any suitable known or approved construction. Said box comprises therA usual. clockwork a, which is preferably maintained. in a normally wound-up condition by a locking-arm al. It will be observedthatl this locking arm is pivotally mounted at aiandv is provided with a linger a3 adapted to engage the lower end of the pendulum of the escapement device a4. The box is also provided .with the usual spring-shaft X, having its outer end squared to receive a key or crank for winding up the box. The 'said pendulum or escapement device controls the running down of the clockwork after thesame hasbeen released, in the usual and well understood manner. Preferably, the locking-arm a1, which, after the box is wound up, normallyengagesthe lower end of the pendulum or escapement device a4, so as tp maintain the box in condition tojtransmit an alarm-signal, is also provided with an u pwardly extending arm a?, adapted at its .upper end to engage a notch a in a. laterally extending flange alon the toothed ll()4 wheel a8. It will also be seenthat a lever o, preferably pivoted at al", has its lower end all adapted to normally bear against the arm a5. The upper portion a of the lever' Y the shaft. IVith this arrangement, it is apparent that the normally wound-up clockwork is maintained in such condition at two points-that is to say, at the point where the linger a3 engages the escapement device, and also at the p oint where the arm engages the notch 1n e nmke-and-break or cohtact wheel as. Furthermore, with this arrangement the clockwork will be. immediately released upon the breaking of the spring Q14; for the broken sections of the spring strikes the projection L13 and' thereby causes the lever a9 to push the arm a5 to the right, thereby releasing the clockwork at both locking points. Alsoyconsistent with -its function of transmitting an alarm-signal,

the said box may be provided with a springcontact finger a adapted to engage the said toothed or contact-wheel as. It will readily be understood that the said box may include a plurality of these wheels and contact-lingers, if suoli is desirable, whereby the character of the signal transmitted may be varied for diiierent purposes.

The devices `shown inclosed by the casing B, also, 4in a general way, constitutes a part of the alarm-boxv apparatus. lThe flexible diaphragm C, employed Iin the manner illustrated, constitutes means for converting an appreciable and sustained rise in pressure into mechanical motion suiiicient to release the normally wound-up clockwork of the box. This diaphragm may be clamped in position by means of thev bolts c which ex tend through the marginal portions of the diaphragm, and also through the'iianges c1 and c2 of the valve-casing structure. The

upper portion c3 of the valve-casing .may be 'lower end of said spring.

provided with an opening c4; In this opening a plunger-like.member c5 is mounted for vertical reciprocation, the lower end of ysaid member being adapted to rest upon the said diaphragm. Normally,` this diaphragm is flexed or sprung ina downward direction, whereby an increase of pressure on its under surface will cause it to rise. This normally depressed condition of the diaphragm is preferably maintained by a spring D through the medium of a lever E; said lever having one end pivoted to a4 hanger c, ahd its other end provided with a seat el for the Itwill also be understood thatthe middle portion of said lever rests upon the v,upper end of the plunger-like member c5, and isf provided with a pivoted seat e2.: y The said hangere vcan have its upper end secured to a plate F,

preferably of insulating material, and preferably supported by an arm G, extending upwardly from the top of the valve-casing. This plate of insulation F may also be formed with a downwardly extending pro jection, adapted to provide a seat for the upper end ofthe spring D. In addition, the said platel F is provided on its under side with a cylindric or tubular member H, having its interior adapted to provide an air chamber. As illustrated, the bore of this hollow member H is adapted to receive the piston or plunger L, the two elements constituting an ordinary dash-pot.

The yoke I extends upwardly through the plate F and the top of the casing B, and

also `through thc bottom of the box A. This yoke has a lower horizontal portion adapted to receive the reduced lower end portion h1 of the stem on the piston or. plunger la; and the upper endof said yoke is provided with a horizontal portion il, adapted, when raised, to engage the lever or pivoted arm a1. It will alsof be seen that a spring J is interposed between the seat r2 and the bottom portion of the said yoke. Thus, with the parts in their normal Jositions, the tension of the spring. D exerted `on the plungenlike members c5 through the medium of the lever` E, is sutcient to resist the normal pressure on the lower .surface ofthe diaphragm, thereby keeping the latter in its normally depressed position, as shown in the drawings. Suppose, however, that pressure on the roo bottom ofI the said diaphragm is suddenly increased, and that this increase in pressure continues for some time, vas would be the case, for example, when one or more of the sprinkler-heads of a system are opened by tire. In such case, only water pressure from the pumpsor other sources of pressure, exerted on the under side of the diaphragm, is suliicient to overcome the normal tension of the spring D, and to cause the member c5 i and the lever E' to rise. AIn rising, the lever E produces a compression of the spring J, owing to the fact thatthe daslrpot plunger h is, of course, sluggish in action andY slow to rise. But the inc rcase in pressure below the diaphragm being, in such case, of a sustained character, the spring J exerts its pres sure to gradually push the plunger L upwardly in the dash-pot cylinder H, thereby causing the yoke I to rise. VWhen thus forced upwardly by thepressure of the spring J, the t-op portion z'l of the said yoke engages thelocking arm al, andvin so doing releases the normally wound up clockwork of the box; for 1t will 'b e seen that when the arm a1 rises, its linger a3 disengages the escapement deviceat, and also that the upper end 'of' the arm a5 disengages the notch in the makeand-break or contact wheel as. The clockwork having been released in this manner like member l pressure being only of a momentary charin the usual and wellknown manner. :But-` suppcse now that the normal pressure, either r of air or water, onrthe under side of the diaphragm C, is lonly momentarily increased above the normal. In such case, the plungerand the -lever E are given an upward movement,

both of the springLsI,

in the manner previously described.

owever, the -increase in ac-ter, the lever E' is allowed to fall toits normal position beforethe spring J can -overcome the yielding opposition of the dashp pot Yand raise the yoke. Consequently, when only a momentaryincrease in' thepressure occurs, the dash-pot arrangement prevents' the release of the normally wound-up clockwork and theconsequent transmission of an alarm signal. In other words, it will be seen that with my improved construction and arrangement, involving an advantageous and etlicient employment of springs and adashpot device, an alarm-signaLwill only be trans.

mittedto the central station when the pressure is given a prolonged .or sustained increase `to ya point more or less above the normal. A p

It will readily be understood that my improved alarm-box apparatus can. be applied to any suitable or desired portion of an automatic fire-alarm system.

The box A, as illustrated, has its springlshaft, X preferably provided with a small removable crank-arm K, provided on its outer, side and at-itsend with a lateral projection 7c.` This projection c is adapted to engage the lower edge Aof a pivoted shutter or indicating member L, which latter is preferably pivoted at'Z upon. the inner sur-A face ofthe front wall of the box. Normally, the said shutter or indicating member L` has 'itsface' or outer surface exposed by the o ening M provided in the said front wall o the I of the spring-shaft X. Thus, when the clockwork is wound up, the-arm K" and the shutter L are in the positions shown in Fig. 4. At suchtime, the face or surface of the shutter being exposed, it will be understood .that the box is in its normal or wound upcondition. When theclockwork is released, the

arm K revolves with the shaft X, and. in so doing causes the shutter L to rise and disappear from the opening M. Fig. 5 illustrates the condition of the said shutter justafter the clockwork begins to unwind, while Fig. shows the positions at which the shutter and arm come to rest when the clockwork With this provision, as stated, to readily debox is 1n a wound or unthereby compressing subject to the normal vertically disposed arm fof the locking lever is adapted, when, released from the notchin' the flange on-the contactwheel, to ride upon the smooth peripheral surface of said flange,

and to thereby prevent the horizontally dis-- l' posed arm of said lever from engaging the'; l

escapement 'device until after a complete rotationof .the Contact wheel and the consequent transmission of the Adesired signal. l Vhat I claim as my invention is: 1. Avaliable-pressure alarm apparatus for automatic fire extinguisher systems, com- -prising ynormally wound-up clockwork, a

member subject to the normal fluid pressure of said system, a spring normally holding said member in `position against the said' pressure, and means including a dash-pot and another spring whereby said clockwork is released upon asustained or prolonged increasein saidpressure sufficient to' overcome the tension of saidrst-mentioned spring.

2. A variable pressure alarm apparatus for automatic re extinguisher systems, comu vprising normally wound-up clockwork, a liexible diaphragm subject to the normal prising normally wound-up. clockwork, a

flexible diaphragm .subjected to the normalv pressure 'of the distributing pipes of said system, a'spring normally holding said diaphragm 1n position against said pressure,

and means including a dashpot whereby .said clockworkwill remain in its normally {wound-up conditionupon a momentary increase in said pressure sufficient to overcome .the tension of said spring. box at apoint coincident with the outer end 4.' The combination of'the casing of a A mally wound-up'clockwork suitably sup- J ported on said casing, a flexible diaphragmpressure above 'the valve, means including a spring for noragainst said pressure, and mechanical connection between said diaphragm and clockwork,` said connection including a dash-pot and another spring, whereby said clock' work is only released upon a sustained or prolonged increase in pressure sufficient to -overcome the tension of said first-mentioned spring.' l

vvalve ofan automatic sprinkler system, nor- -mally holding said diaphragm in position l.

5. The combination of a suitable portion of an automatic fire-extinguisher system, normally wound-up clockwork supported by said'portion, a flexible diaphragm subject to the'normal iuid pressure in said portion, a

phragm, a lever'fulcrumed at dash-pot and another connection including a ring for normally holding said diaphragm in position against said pressure, and mechanical connection between said diaphragm and clockwork, said connection including a spring whereby said clockwork is only released upon a sustained or prolonged increase in fluid pressure sufficienct to overcome the tension of the first mentioned spring.

G. The combination of a suitable portion ot an automatic fire-extinguisher system, normally wound-upclock Work supported by said po1tion,=t'fle.\ 1ible diaphragm subject to the normal pressure in said portion, a reciprocating member engaging said diaone end and having its middle portion engaging said reciprocating member, a spring engaging the other end of said lever and thereby serving to normally hold said diaphragm in position against the pressure, and mechanical connection between said levereand clockwork, said dash-pot and another spring whereby said clockwork is only released by a sustained or prolonged increase in pressure sufficient to overcome the tension of said first-mentioned spring#J 7. The combination of a suitable portion of an automatic fire extinguisher system, a. flexible diaphragm subject vto the normal iuid pressure in said portion, clockwork supported by said portion and provided with a inciting device for maintaining the same a normally Wound-up condition. a reciprocating member engaging said diaphragm, another reciprocating member adapted to engage said locking device, a lever ul' crumed at one end and having its middle portion engaging said first-mentioned reciprocating member, a spring engaging the other end of said lever, and normally holding pressure, another spring interposed between the middle portion of said lever and the said other'reciprocating member, and a dash-pot adapted to yieldingly oppose compression of said last-mentioned spring, whereby said clockwork is only released upon sustained orprolonged increase inpressure suflicient to overcomevthe tension of the spring engaging said lever.

8. The combination With a tire extinguisher system adapted to contain fluid, ot a part movable under variations of fluid conditions in said system, a signaling device, instrumentalities controlled by the movable part for conditioning the signaling device to operate, and a dash pot for retarding the action of said instrumentalities.

9. The' combination With a fire extinguisher system adapted to contain fluid under pressure. of a diaphragm movable under variations of fluid conditions in said system, a normally Wound signal transmitter, in-

strumentalities controlled by `the movable diaphragm for conditioning the transmitter for operation, and means for timing the action of said instrumentalities. n

Signed by me at Chicago, Cook county,

Illinois, this 25th day of February, 1904.

JAMES G. NOLEN.

lVitnesses:

SEVERINUS B. CHAoWsKI, WM. A. HARDENS.

said diaphragm in position against the-- 

